The appearance of a Pikachu is somewhat like a cartoony yellow mouse, with long pointed ears and a lightning-bolt shaped tail. Their round bodies and bright eyes give off a general idea of "cuteness," as do their bright red cheeks.

However, these cheeks aren't just for show; they contain powerful electric sacs, capable of administering 1,000 Volts of electricity.

Despite being described in the Pokédex as a "Mouse Pokémon", Pikachu derives its name from the pika, a lagomorph.